The National tribune., 1887-02-03
GEN. FARNSWORTH,
And How NE ZEN in caraIrr Charge a, Gettrsbl

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: read the ac-
count of Gen. Law, late of the Confederate
army; in the December Century in which he
pays high compliment to the Union Gen.
Farnsworth at the battle OF Gettysburg. As /
was participant in the cavalry charge at Get
tysburg perhaps statement from my point OF
observation may be of interest.
In The forepart Of the day Gen. Fitzpatrick
ordered a squadron Of the 1st Vt. Cav. to
charge from the woods to a certain stone house
and to hold the position. 1t appeared at the
time to be desperate undertaking, as a line of
Confederate infantry was plainly in view and
well posted behind a stone wall The squad
ron, consisting Of Cos ID and F, made the
charge and reached and held the house until
relieved. The loss was heavy.
In the afternoon Gen. Fitzpatrick ordered
Gen. Farnsworth to lead battalion in a
charge toward some artillery. As there were
several stone walls between our troops and the
artillery, we'll manned with infantry, Gen.
Farnsworth remarked that it would be q use
less waste Of life to make the charge with so
few men. Gen. Fitzpatrick then said in an an
cry tone: " If you are afraid to lead your men,
/ will lead them myself"
This remark very much nettled Gen. Farms
worth, who quietly replied, Il ask no man to
lead my men forward"
The troops he led were Maj Wells's battalion,
of the 1st VT. Cav, four companies, some 200
men. Away they went, with drawn sabers,
making turn around a small hill, and then
struck out boldly for Lees army. They had
not gone many rods when heavy fire from
infantry was opened on them, killing and
wounding many. Making q short turn to the
left Gen. Farnsworth rode up to line of in
fantry and ordered their surrender. At this
there was another discharge from the infantry,
and down went Gen. Farnsworth and others.
Maj. Wells and few men made a further turn
and tried to return the way they went in.
About this time Gen. Fitzpatrick ordered
another battalion to charge in the same place.
In this battalion / was leading the second
squadron. i did not hear the instructions
given the commander of the battalion, who
was the Captain of Co. l.. Before this charge
started the Captains horse was shot and him
self badly wounded. The two leading compa-
nies were badly cut up and did not go farther
in the charge.
AS my front became open to the fire of the
enemy L gave the order Forward and down
the road We went in column of fours. Nearing
barricade in the road l made turn to the
right around a small hill and into open country
Here we were in the midst of infantry on all
sides, and the men and horses fell fast / made
left face up to fence, behind which the
enemys infantry was posted. Here we did
what we could with pistols and sabers, but
everything was against Us, and / started uI
the valley again. Here / found Maj. Wells and
a few Of his men. He reported Gen. Farms
worth killed, and that we were between the
enemy's line of battle and skirmish-line. Mai
Wells being the ranking officer, he took com.
mand, and we made for the woods in the direc-
tion of our infantry. We succeeded in getting
out of our tight place and rejOined our com.
mand. Maj. Wells had several bullet-holes in
his clothes. but was not wounded. / was not
hit in any manner but thought it most won.
derful escapes. A. CLARK, Lieutenant, Co
+, 1st VT Cav, Holabird, Oak.